Service-filled day is ahead to mark one year anniversary of Chardon shooting

CHARDON -- A carefully planned agenda has been arranged to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Chardon High School.

Chardon High School Library/Media Specialist Linda Ross delivered an overview of the significant day for students at a board meeting this week.

"Our goal is to have it as a day of service," Ross said. "The activities are based on a student survey -- what they wanted to do."

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On Feb. 27, 2012, six students were shot, three of them fatally. Fellow student Thomas M. Lane III, also known as T.J., is charged with the crimes and is awaiting trial.

This year, students will begin Feb. 27 by reporting to their first period class where they'll receive a schedule of events.

They will then be given the opportunity to take part in activities including making blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to "providing security through blankets," for ill or traumatized children and teens, according to information from the organization.

Ross said Chardon students benefitted greatly from Project Linus blankets sent to them after the tragedy and they hope to reciprocate the kindness.

"When they received their blankets they just wrapped themselves up in them and got great comfort from that," she said.

On hand are enough materials to craft 600 blankets.

Students also may choose to create leashes for therapy dogs. Trained therapeutic canines were brought into the school after the tragedy to help with the healing process.

Other activities include baking, writing and art therapy sessions.

Fourteen-hundred meals from Qdoba Mexican Grill have been ordered for the day's lunch.

In the early afternoon, students, staff and first responders will begin a memorial walk to Chardon Square for a gathering of remembrance and renewal.

Afterwards they'll return to the school for refreshments and dismissal.

Ross said the Chardon High student body "has made such progress in moving forward" and that it was exemplary to those both within and outside the community.

On Feb. 26, the day preceding the one-year anniversary, a Chardon High School Commemorative Choir and Band Concert will be presented at St. Mary's Church on North Street.

The concert, as well as all school buildings on Feb. 27, will be closed to the media.

In addition to stepped-up security, employees of Chardon-based Fairmount Minerals will be posted at all doors for monitoring purposes.

A candlelight vigil hosted by the city of Chardon is set for 6:30 p.m. on the square.

Fairmount Minerals, the city of Chardon and Geauga United Way worked with district officials to organize the day's proceedings.

Chardon High School Principal Andrew Fetchik said that of the numerous committees in which he has taken part over the years, the commemoration committee "has been the most rewarding and challenging at the same time."

All funds used for the Remembrance Day have been donated. Ross said that immediately after the incident last year, donations began to pour in along with notes requesting that they be used for the children and to heal.